The String Quartet No. 1 (D 18) in mixed keys was composed by Franz Schubert in 1810 or 1811.
Contents
History
A partial autograph of the composer kept in the Vienna City Library has the date 1812 written on the cover. The composition date is however more likely 1810. As such it may be Schubert's earliest extant completed multi-movement work for more than one player.
Description
The work has the traditional four movements of a classical string quartet, with the Menuetto preceding the slow movement (Andante). The key signature of the work is undefined.
Key signature
D 18 is the only remaining of a set of three early string quartets "in changing, undefined" key signatures by Schubert. The Deutsch catalogue indicates its key as g/B[♭].
Movements
- Andante – Presto vivace (C minor – G minor)
- Menuetto (F major, with Trio in C major)
- Andante (B-flat major)
- Presto (B-flat major)
Publication
The work was first published in 1890, in the Franz Schubert's Works complete edition by Breitkopf & Härtel.